Method for deploying a task in a supercomputer, method for implementing a task in a supercomputer, corresponding computer program and supercomputer

ABSTRACT

This method for deploying a task involves: allocating nodes (1 . . . 16) to the task; determining, in the network (110), a subnetwork, for interconnecting the allocated nodes, satisfying one or more predefined determination criteria comprising a first criterion according to which the subnetwork uses only links that are not allocated to any other task already deployed or that are allocated to fewer than N other tasks already deployed, N being a predefined number equal to one or more; allocating the subnet, and in particular the links belonging to that subnet, to the task; and implementing inter-node communication routes in the allocated subnet

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of French Patent Application No. 1873798 filed Dec. 21, 2018, and French Patent Application No. 1904674 filed May 3, 2019, the disclosure of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to a method for deploying a task in a supercomputer, a method for implementing a task in a supercomputer, a corresponding computer program and supercomputer.

The invention applies more particularly to a method for deploying a task in a computer cluster forming a supercomputer comprising:

-   -   computers, each having at least one network interface forming a         node; and     -   a node interconnection network, comprising:         -   switches, each having network interfaces, and         -   links, each connecting either a node and a network interface             of one switch or two network interfaces of two respective             switches;

the method comprising:

-   -   allocating nodes to the task.

The article by J. Domke and T. Hoefler entitled “Scheduling-Aware Routing for Supercomputers” published in SC '16: Proceedings of the International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage and Analysis, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2016, pp. 142-153, doi: 10.1109/SC.2016.12 describes a method using a database with the list of tasks running on the supercomputer, with routing recalculating routes according to their usage in order to reduce congestion on the network.

The article by Matthieu Perotin and Tom Cornebize entitled “Isolating Jobs for Security on High-Performance Fabrics” published in High-Performance Interconnection Networks in the Exascale and Big-Data Era (HiPINEB) 2017, IEEE 3rd International Workshop on, pp. 49-56, 2017, describes a method wherein tasks are isolated from each other (in the sense that they cannot communicate therebetween) by deleting rows in routing tables, so that there is no route between two nodes allocated to two different tasks respectively.

However, neither of the above two documents addresses the problem of controlling the task execution environment.

Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a method for deploying a task in a computer cluster forming a supercomputer, which allows to eliminate at least part of the problems and constraints mentioned above.

The invention, therefore, has the purpose of providing a method for deploying a task in a computer cluster forming a supercomputer, comprising:

-   -   computers, each having at least one network interface forming a         node; and     -   a node interconnection network, comprising:         -   switches, each having network interfaces, and         -   links, each connecting either a node and a network interface             of one switch or two network interfaces of two respective             switches;

the method comprising:

-   -   allocating nodes to the task;

the method being characterized in that it further comprises:

-   -   determining, in the network, a subnetwork, of interconnection of         the allocated nodes, satisfying one or more predefined         determination criteria comprising a first criterion according to         which the subnetwork uses only links which are not allocated to         any other task already deployed or which are allocated to fewer         than N other tasks already deployed, N being a predefined number         equal to one or more;     -   the allocation of the subnet, and in particular of the links         belonging to this subnet, to the task; and     -   the implementation of inter-node communication routes in the         allocated subnetwork.

Therefore, thanks to the invention, the number of link-sharing tasks is limited, and, as a result, each link is unlikely to be congested. Therefore, each task has the impression that it is the only one (or almost the only one) using the interconnection network. Therefore, especially when a task is executed several times, the execution environment varies little, since it is little affected by the other running tasks.

Optionally, the predefined number N can be set to one.

Also optionally, the criterion or criteria for determining the subnet further include a second criterion according to which the subnet determined is the one, among at least two subnets, satisfying the criteria other than the second criterion, using the most switches already allocated, each to at least one task already deployed.

Thus, fewer switches are used, allowing to switch off, or set in a standby state, a large number of unused switches. Despite the over-consumption and slight latency due to the switching on or awakening of a switch, it was found that, on average, the method of the invention could save energy without significantly delaying the deployment of tasks.

Also optionally, the determination of the sub-network involves determining the at least two sub-networks satisfying the criterion or criteria other than the second criterion, then selecting from among these at least two sub-networks of the one using the most switches each already allocated to at least one task already deployed.

It is also proposed a task implementation method, comprising:

-   -   the deployment of the task in a supercomputer, in accordance         with a deployment method according to the invention;     -   executing the task; and     -   at the end of the execution of the task:         -   detecting at least one link that is not allocated to any             task, and         -   setting each detected link in an idle state, wherein the             link requires less energy consumption than a link associated             with at least one task.

Thus, it is possible to reduce the supercomputer's power consumption, without the need to perform flow measurements in the links to deactivate those whose flow is zero.

Optionally, the method involves, in order to set a link in the inactive state, switching off the two network interfaces that this link connects so that no current or light flows through this link.

Optionally, the method also comprises, to set a link in the inactive state, decreasing an operating frequency of at least one of the two network interfaces that this link connects.

A computer program downloadable from a communication network and/or saved to a medium that is readable by a computer and/or executable by a processor is also proposed, characterized in that it comprises instructions for executing the steps of a method according to the invention, when said program is executed on one or more computers.

It is further proposed a computer cluster forming a supercomputer comprising:

-   -   computers, each having at least one node interconnection         network;     -   a node interconnection network, comprising:         -   switches, each having network interfaces, and         -   links, each connecting either a node and a network interface             of one switch or two network interfaces of two respective             switches;

the supercomputer further comprising software and/or hardware means for deploying a task, designed to implement the following step:

-   -   allocating nodes to the task;

the supercomputer being characterized in that it further comprises software and/or hardware means for deploying a task, designed to implement the following steps:

-   -   determining, in the network, a subnetwork, of interconnection of         the allocated nodes, satisfying one or more predefined         determination criteria comprising a first criterion according to         which the subnetwork uses only links which are not allocated to         any other task already deployed or which are allocated to fewer         than N other tasks already deployed, N being a predefined number         equal to one or more;     -   the allocation of the subnet, and in particular of the links         belonging to this subnet, to the task; and     -   the implementation of inter-node communication routes in the         allocated subnetwork.

The invention will be better understood by means of the following description, given only as an example and made with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically represents the general structure of a computer cluster forming a supercomputer, according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a switch of the supercomputer in FIG. 1, as well as the environment of this switch,

FIG. 3 shows the successive steps of a method for implementing a task in the supercomputer in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a node interconnection subnetwork of the supercomputer in FIG. 1 allocated to a first task,

FIG. 5 shows a potential node interconnection subnetwork of the supercomputer in FIG. 1 allocated to a second task,

FIG. 6 shows a potential node interconnection subnetwork of the supercomputer from FIG. 1 allocated to a second task,

FIG. 7 shows a potential node interconnection subnetwork of the supercomputer from FIG. 1 allocated to a second task,

FIG. 8 shows a potential node interconnection subnetwork of the supercomputer from FIG. 1 allocated to a second task,

FIG. 9 shows the two node interconnection subnetworks of the supercomputer in FIG. 1 allocated to the first and second tasks respectively,

FIG. 10 shows a potential node interconnection subnetwork of the supercomputer from FIG. 1 allocated to a third task,

FIG. 11 shows a potential node interconnection subnetwork of the computer from FIG. 1 allocated to a third task,

FIG. 12 shows a potential node interconnection subnetwork of the supercomputer from FIG. 1 allocated to a third task,

FIG. 13 shows the three supercomputer node interconnection subnetworks in FIG. 1 allocated to the first, second and third tasks, respectively, and

FIG. 14 shows links released after the second task was stopped, in the supercomputer in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, a computer cluster forming a supercomputer, implementing the invention, will now be described.

The computer cluster 100 consists of independent computers 102, 104 which appear from the outside as a single computer with very high computing power, known as a High Performance Computing (HPC) computer or supercomputer. Each computer 102, 104 comprises, as known per se, a central processing unit, a main memory wherein instructions for the central processing unit are to be stored and at least one network interface.

The network interfaces each form nodes 1 . . . 16 of the computer cluster 100. Several network interfaces (and therefore, several nodes 1 . . . 16) may belong to a single computer 102, 104, or, as in the example described, each computer 102, 104 may have only one network interface forming one of the nodes 1 . . . 16.

Also in the example described, computers 102, 104 in the computer cluster 100 comprise computing computers 102 and storage computers 104, the latter having mass storage devices such as hard disks for recording data used and/or produced by the computing computers 102.

Also in the example described, the network interfaces of the storage computers 104 are optical network interfaces, while the network interfaces of the computing computers 102 are electrical network interfaces having a lower throughput than the optical network interfaces. This is because storage computers 104 typically exchange more data than computing computers 102.

The computer cluster 100 further comprises a node 1 . . . 16 intrconnection network 110.

The network 110 comprises, on the one hand, switches 1.1 . . . 4.8 each having at least one network interface and, on the other hand, communication links 114 each connecting either one node 1 . . . 16 and one network interface of a switch 1.1 . . . 1.8, or two network interfaces of two respective switches 1.1 . . . 4.8.

The computer cluster 100 has a certain topology defining the relative arrangement of nodes 1 . . . 16, switches 1.1 . . . 4.8 and communication links 114. In the example described, the topology is that of a Parallel Generalized Fat Tree (PGFT). The topology of a PGFT is typically defined by the following nomenclature: PGFT(h; m_1 . . . m_h; w_1 . . . w_h; p_1 . . . p_h), where h is the number of levels between which the switches are distributed, m_n is the number of level n−1 switches (or nodes for the first level) connected to each level n switch, w_n is the number of level n switches connected to each level n−1 switch (or to each node for the first level) and p_n is the number of parallel communication links used between levels n and n−1 (or between level n and the nodes for the first level). In the example described, the topology of computer cluster 100 is PGFT(4; 2, 2, 2, 2; 1, 2, 2, 2; 1, 1, 1). Therefore, in the example described, the first level switches are switches 1.1 . . . 1.8, the second level switches are switches 2.1 . . . 2.8, etc.

Each switch 1.1 . . . 4.8 has connection ports present in the network interface(s) of that switch 1.1 . . . 4.8, to which the communication links 114 are respectively connected. In the example described, the communication links 114 are all bi-directional, so that all ports are both inbound and outbound ports.

Additionally, in the example described, each switch 1.1 . . . 4.8 has local routing tables associated with its respective inbound ports. Each local routing table associates an outgoing port of the switch with each destination of an incoming message via the respective incoming port.

Additionally, each switch 1.1 . . . 4.8 has default local routing tables. In the example described, the default routing tables are, for example, pre-determined by the d-mod-k algorithm or by the s-mod-k algorithm.

For example, switch 1.3 is shown in FIG. 2 with the four communication links 114 connecting it to its neighboring nodes 5 and 6 and its neighboring switches 2.3 and 2.4. Switch 1.3 thus has the four ports: P_5, P_6, P_2.3 and P_2.4, which are both incoming and outgoing ports. An example of a default local routing table for port P_6 of switch 1.3, obtained by the d-mod-k algorithm, is shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Default local routing table for port P_6 of switch 1.3 Destination nodes Exit port 1 P_2.3 2 P_2.4 3 P_2.3 4 P_2.4 5 P_5 6 P_6 7 P_2.3 8 P_2.4 9 P_2.3 10 P_2.4 11 P_2.3 12 P_2.4 13 P_2.3 14 P_2.4 15 P_2.3 16 P_2.4

Back to FIG. 1, the computer cluster 100 further comprises an administration server 112. In particular, the administration server 112 is designed to interact with clients that want to use computer cluster 100, which is then seen by the clients as a single machine.

The administration server 112 is designed to implement a task implementation method, as described below. To do this, the administration server 112 comprises software and/or hardware means, such as for example a resource manager (like the “slurm” software) and a routing establishment module, to perform the steps that will be described below. In the example described, the administration server 112 comprises, as is known per se, a central processing unit and a main memory wherein instructions for the central processing unit are intended to be stored. Therefore, in the example described, the means are software means, in the form of a computer program downloadable from a communication network and/or recorded on a computer-readable and/or processor-executable medium, comprising instructions for executing the method steps when said computer program is executed on the administration server. Alternatively, all or part of these means could be micro-programmed hardware means or micro-wired in dedicated integrated circuits. Thus, alternatively, the administration server 112 could be an electronic device composed solely of digital circuits (without a computer program) for performing the same actions.

In other embodiments of the invention, the various functions of the administration server 112 could be distributed among several devices, for example among several computers. For example, the resource manager could be implemented on one computer and the routing establishment module on another computer.

The computer cluster 100 allows the distribution of complex processing and/or parallel computing on at least some of the computing computers 102.

As explained in more detail below, to each task deployed are allocated, on the one hand, nodes and, on the other hand, switches and links between these switches, forming an interconnection subnetwork of the allocated nodes.

In the description below, the following terminology will be used.

A link is said to be unused when it is not allocated to a task. Therefore, no task uses this link, so that no data related to the execution of a task goes through this link. The link is said to be used in the opposite case, i.e. when it is allocated to at least one task, so that data related to the execution of this or these tasks go through this link.

A link is said to be available when it is unused (i.e., as explained above, allocated to no task) or when it is allocated to less than N other tasks, N being a predefined number equal to at least one. The predefined number N therefore represents the maximum number of task(s) that can use the same link. The number N can be equal to one, in which case the two branches of the previous alternative are equivalent. Alternatively, the number N can be two or more. For example, the number N is defined before tasks are deployed in the computer cluster 100, and applies to all tasks deployed later, until the number N is redefined. This redefinition occurs, for example, when no task is deployed in the computer cluster 100.

A switch is said to be unused when it is not allocated to any task. It is said to be in use when it is allocated to at least one task.

Referring to FIG. 3, a method 300 for implementing a task, hereafter referred to as a task in progress, in the computer cluster 100 will now be described.

Method 300 comprises a step 302 for deploying the current task in the computer cluster 100, a step 304 for executing the current task and a step 306 for flushing after execution.

The current task deployment step 302 consists of the following steps from 308 to 316. For example, step 308 is performed by the resource manager, while the steps 310 to 316 are performed by the routing establishment module.

In step 308, the administration server 112 receives the current task and a number representing the number of nodes that the current task needs to run.

In step 310, the administration server 112 allocates nodes to the current task, connected to the minimum possible number of unused switches. For example, the administration server 112 allocates nodes connected to switches that are already in use first, and then consecutive nodes.

In a step 312, the administration server 112 determines a subnet of the network 110 that meets predefined determination criteria.

The determination criteria include in particular, a first criterion whereby the subnetwork interconnects the allocated nodes.

In the example described, the determination criteria further comprise a second criterion whereby the subnet uses only available links (i.e., allocated to no other tasks or allocated to fewer than N other tasks already deployed) and a third criterion whereby the determined subnet is the one, of at least two subnets satisfying the other criteria, that uses the most switches already in use (i.e., allocated to at least one task already deployed).

In the example described, the at least two subnetworks comprise all the subnetworks meeting the other criteria.

In one embodiment, the subnets searched for are trees. Therefore, the administration server 112 scans the switches, for example in ascending order of level, to find each tree (i) originating from that switch, (ii) using only available links, and (iii) servicing all nodes allocated to the current task. Thus, in the example described, the administration server 112 determines all possible trees having the same minimum level to serve all the allocated nodes (indeed, the trees whose top is of higher level will necessarily require more unused switches) and selects, among these possible trees, the one using the most switches already used.

Alternatively, one could use an algorithm that builds the subnetwork satisfying the three determination criteria. Therefore, there would be no need to explicitly determine all the subnets satisfying the criteria other than the third one, in order to select one of them. The construction per se would ensure that the constructed subnetwork would be the one using the most switches already in use.

For example, an algorithm for constructing the subnetwork is presented in the Annex.

This algorithm uses the notion of subtopology.

A subtopology is for example a set of one or more switches, none of which is connected to a lower level switch. Thus, the complete topology is an example of a subtopology. Each top-level switch is also an example of a subtopology.

Another definition of a subtopology is given in the article by Jean-Noel QUINTIN and Pierre VIGNERAS entitled “Transitively Deadlock-Free Routing Algorithms” published in 2016 in the Conference HiPINEB, HPCA and available at the following address: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301345528_Transitively_Deadlock-Free_Routing_Algorithms

This article defines the concept of enclosing sub-topology, represented by a tuple (d₁, . . . , d_(I)), I<I_(max)−1: the set of switches of level k, k<I_(max)−I with topological addresses in the form of (k, d₁, . . . , d_(i), e_(Imax−1)): they all share the same infix given by the sub-topology notation.

In a step 314, the administration server 112 allocates the subnet determined in step 312 to the current task. The links and switches in this subnet are thus allocated to the current task. Thus, each link is dedicated to a maximum of N tasks, which makes it possible to reduce the impact of tasks on each other. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the variance of successive execution times of the same task. Indeed, each time this task is executed, the links it will use will be shared with a limited number of other tasks. At best, when the number N is one, the links used by this task will be completely dedicated to it. Thus, the execution environment of this task varies little with each new execution, which results in a reduction in the variance of the execution times.

In step 316, the administration server 112 implements, in the interconnection network 110, inter-node communication routes in the allocated subnetwork. In the example described, this implementation is achieved by modifying the local routing tables, if necessary. Specifically, in the example described where a PGFT network is used, it is only necessary to modify the uplink routing tables, i.e. to move to a higher level. Additionally, the uplink routing tables only need to be changed if nodes allocated to the task do not form a complete subtopology. Thus, the number of possible modifications to be made is very small, which does not significantly slow down the task deployment.

After the deployment step 302, the current task runs in step 304.

The post-execution clearance step 306 comprises the following steps 318 to 324.

In a step 318, the administration server 112 undoes the changes made in step 316 in the local routing tables. This return to the default routing tables ensures that deploying a new task will require few changes of the default routing tables, as explained hereinbefore about step 316.

In a step 320, the administration server 112 releases (i.e., deallocates) the nodes and subnet allocated to the current task.

In step 322, the administration server 112 searches for unused links of the computer cluster 100 (i.e., links that are not allocated to any task). Preferably, the search is performed only among the links released in step 320.

In a step 324, the administration server sets each found link in an inactive state wherein the link requires less power consumption than a power consumption required by an active link associated with at least one task (and therefore used by that task or those tasks).

For example, in one embodiment, the administration server 112 shuts down both network interfaces that this link connects so that no power or light is flowing through this link. In another embodiment, the administration server 112 decreases an operating frequency of the two network interfaces that this link connects.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 12, a non-limiting example of the implementation of method 300 will now be described.

It is assumed that the computer cluster 100 is configured so that the predefined number N is one. Thus, each link in the computer cluster 100 can only be allocated to a maximum of one task. It is further assumed that initially no task is deployed in the computer cluster 100. Thus, all links are available. As a result, the default local routing tables are used and the links are set in the inactive state in order to reduce the power consumption of the computer cluster 100.

Referring to FIG. 4, the administration server 112 implements step 308 and receives a task t1 requiring n1 nodes of the computer cluster 100. In the example described, n1 is five.

Administration server 112 performs step 310 and allocates the following n1 nodes to the task t1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

The administration server 112 implements step 312 and determines a subnetwork for interconnecting the allocated nodes. In the example described, the administration server 112 traverses the switches in ascending order of level and, in the example described, by ascending number on the same level (from left to right in FIG. 4). Thus, the administration server 112 browses through the first tier switches and then through the second tier switches. However, for switches 1.1 to 1.8 and 2.1 to 2.8, there is no tree connecting all allocated nodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Therefore, the administration server 112 arrives at switch 3.1, from where the tree A1 depicted in bold in FIG. 4 starts. The tree A1 uses only available links and interconnects all allocated nodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

There also is another tree, from switch 3.3, which interconnects all allocated nodes and uses only available links. These two trees have the same number of unused switches (six), so that the administration server can retain any one of them. For example, the administration server 112 retains tree A1.

The administration server 112 implements step 314 and then allocates tree A1 to task t1.

The administration server 112 implements step 316 and implements communication routes between the allocated nodes in tree A1. To do this, in the example described, the administration server 112 modifies the local routing tables, if necessary.

At this point, task t1 is deployed and is executed (step 304) by the computer cluster 100 on the allocated nodes that communicate therebetween following the routes of tree A1.

Referring to FIG. 5, the administration server 112 implements step 308 and then receives a task t2 requiring n2 nodes of computer cluster 100.

In the example described, n2 is five.

The administration server 112 implements step 310 and allocates nodes to task t2 by prioritizing the nodes connected to the switches already in use, i.e., node 6. Thus, in the example described, the administration server 112 allocates the following n2 nodes to task t2: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

The administration server 112 implements step 312 and determines a subnetwork for interconnecting the allocated nodes. As previously mentioned, the administration server 112 traverses the switches in ascending order. The first switch from which a tree servicing the allocated nodes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 starts is switch 4.1. However, this tree contains the link between switches 2.3 and 3.1, which is already allocated to task t1 and therefore unavailable. Thus, the administration server 112 does not retain this tree and goes to switch 4.2, from which tree A2 starts. This tree uses only available links and serves all allocated nodes 6, 7, 8. Similarly, the administration server 112 determines the trees from switches 4.4, 4.6, and 4.8 shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, respectively. These four trees comprise the same number of unused switches. Thus, the administration server 112 can select any one of them, for example tree A2 from switch 4.2 (FIG. 9).

The administration server 112 implements step 314 and allocates tree A2 to task t2.

The administration Server 112 implements step 316 and implements, in tree A2 communication routes between the allocated nodes.

To do this, in the example described, the administration server 112 modifies the local routing tables, if necessary. For example, the local routing table for port P_6 of switch 1.3 is modified as shown in Table 2 below (modification shown in bold and italics).

TABLE 2 Modified local routing table for port P_6 of switch 1.3 Destination nodes Exit port 1 P_2.3 2 P_2.4 3 P_2.3 4 P_2.4 5 P_5 6 P_6 7

8 P_2.4 9 P_2.3 10 P_2.4 11 P_2.3 12 P_2.4 13 P_2.3 14 P_2.4 15 P_2.3 16 P_2.4

Thus, the messages from node 6 to nodes 7 to 10 all go through the link connecting switches 1.3 and 2.4 and therefore avoid the link connecting switches 1.3 and 2.3 allocated to task t1, which would not have been the case if the default routing table had been kept.

At this stage, tasks t1, t2 are deployed and executed (step 304) by the computer cluster 100, on the respectively allocated nodes which communicate therebetween by following the routes of trees A1 and A2, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 10, the administration server 112 implements step 308 and then receives a task t3 requiring n3 nodes of the computer cluster 100. In the example described, n3 is three.

The administration server 112 implements step 310 and allocates nodes to the task t3 by first allocating the nodes connected to the switches already in use (none at this point), and then allocating consecutive nodes. Thus, in the example described, the administration server 112 allocates the following n3 nodes to task t3: 11, 12, 13.

The administration server 112 implements step 312 and determines a subnetwork for interconnecting the allocated nodes. The administration server 112, therefore, finds the three trees from switches 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, respectively shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, satisfying the first and second determination criteria. Of these three trees, the one from switch 3.8 (subsequently called A3) has four unused switches (numbered in bold in FIG. 12), while the other two trees each require five unused switches (numbered in bold in FIGS. 10 and 11). Therefore, the tree from switch 3.8 (tree A3) satisfies the third determination criterion and is therefore retained by the administration server 112.

The administration server 112 implements step 314 and allocates tree A3 to task t3.

The administration server 112 implements step 316 and implements, in tree A3, communication routes between the allocated nodes, modifying, if necessary, the local routing tables.

At this stage, tasks t1, t2 and t3 are deployed and executed (step 304) by the computer cluster 100, on the respectively allocated nodes that communicate therebetween by following the routes of trees A1, A2 and A3, respectively (FIG. 13).

Referring to FIG. 14, at a later time, task t2 completes its execution.

Thus, the administration server 112 implements step 318 and cancels the modifications made in the local routing tables to deploy task t2.

The administration server 112 implements step 320 and releases (i.e., deallocates) the nodes and the subnet A2 allocated to task t2. Released links are shown in dashed and bold.

The administration server 112 implements step 322 and looks for links of the computer cluster 100 that are not allocated to any task. Preferably, the search is performed only among the links of task t2. In the example described, since a link can be allocated to no more than one task (N equals one), all links that were allocated to task t2 become unused.

The administration server 112 implements step 324 and sets each link found (i.e. in the example described all links that were allocated to task t2, shown dotted and bolded) in the inactive state.

Thus, it is possible to reduce energy consumption by disabling unused links, especially, those connecting switches to the computing nodes. Generally, on a PGFT, half of the links are dedicated to computing nodes and the other half to inter-switch links. If, for example, ten nodes connected to the same switch are used for a particular task, these ten nodes will communicate externally only to the input/output nodes (for example, the nodes of the storage computers 104). Thus, it is possible to shut down up to ten links during the execution of this task (depending on the number of input/output nodes in the supercomputer as well as the input/output node requirements requested by the user, it is possible to keep these links active).

It is clear that a method such as the one described above makes it possible to control the task execution environment.

It should also be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It will indeed become evident to the person skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in light of the teaching that has just been disclosed to him/her. In the detailed presentation of the invention that is made above, the terms used shall not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the embodiments set out in this description, but shall be interpreted to include all the equivalents whose prediction is within the grasp of the person skilled in the art by applying his/her general knowledge to the implementation of the findings that have just been disclosed to him/her.

APPENDIX

-   -   Count the number of nodes allocated per subtopology.     -   For each subtopology with a non-zero number of allocated nodes:         -   (switches with respectively increasing numbers s starting             from 0) for s=0; s<S_n; s++:             -   check if there is a link tree allowing access to all the                 nodes allocated in the subtopology,             -   if yes, increment the number of accessible top switches                 of these switches,             -   if no, move on to the next one.     -   Take one of the most important subtopologies (called T_n_c of         level n: the highest level switches are of level n).     -   Consider that there are S_n switches of level n.     -   For each subtopology included in T_n_c of levels n−1, we have a         number of allocated nodes x_n−1. (For simplicity, it is         considered that each subtopology has the same number of         allocated nodes. This particular case is easily generalizable in         case two subtopologies have different numbers of allocated         nodes).     -   As long as nb_switch_allocated_level_n at level n is less than         x_n−1:         -   take an unvisited 11 switch:             -   there are X level 11 switches in the smallest                 encompassing subtopology,             -   select a higher level switch with a T value counter as                 close as possible (nb_switch_allocated−x_n−1)             -   allocate all downlinks from this switch to the X                 switches having allocated nodes (including the selected                 one)             -   select in the twin sub-topologies (“twin” in the article                 by QUENTIN and VIGNERAS) the same switch (it is                 necessarily allocatable due to the way the counter is                 calculated),             -   repeat at most X times the same by considering a switch                 12 which has just been allocated as long as                 nb_switch_allocated_level_n is less than x_n−1,                 -   at each top switch allocation, increment                     nb_switch_allocated_level_n,             -   then to the next levels,             -   once all levels are done, decrement the counters of the                 allocated switches by X.

Note: In case of unbalanced allocation, reallocation is possible for some subtopologies (in order to have the necessary bandwidth for the nodes). 

1. A method (302) for deploying a task in a computer cluster forming a supercomputer comprising: computers (102, 104) each having at least one network interface forming a node (1 . . . 16), and a network (110) for interconnecting the nodes (1 . . . 16), comprising: switches (1.1 . . . 4.8) each having network interfaces, and links (114) each connecting either a node (1 . . . 16) and a network interface of one switch (1.1 . . . 1.8) or two network interfaces of two switches (2.1 . . . 4.8) respectively; the method (302) comprising: allocating (310) nodes (1 . . . 16) to the task; the method (302) being characterized in that it further comprises: determining (312), in the network (110), a subnetwork, for interconnecting the allocated nodes, satisfying one or more predefined determination criteria comprising a first criterion whereby the subnetwork uses only links that are not allocated to any other task already deployed or that are allocated to fewer than N other tasks already deployed, where N is a predefined number equal to one or more; allocating (314) the subnetwork, and in particular the links belonging to this subnetwork, to the task; and implementing (316) inter-node communication routes in the allocated subnetwork.
 2. A method (302) according to claim 1, wherein the predefined number N is one.
 3. A method (302) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the criterion or criteria for determining the subnetwork further include a second criterion according to which the determined subnetwork is the one, among at least two subnetworks satisfying the criteria other than the second criterion, using the most switches already allocated each to at least one task already deployed.
 4. A method (302) according to claim 3, wherein determining the subnetwork comprises determining the at least two subnetworks satisfying the criterion or criteria other than the second criterion, and then selecting from among these at least two subnetworks the one using the most switches each already allocated to at least one task already deployed.
 5. A method (300) for implementing a task, comprising: deploying the task in a supercomputer, in accordance with a deployment method (302) according to any one of claims 1 to 4; executing (304) the task; and at the end of the execution of the task: detecting (322) at least one link that is not allocated to any task, and setting (324) each detected link in an idle state, wherein the link requires less energy consumption than a link associated with at least one task.
 6. A method (300) according to claim 5, comprising, for setting a link in the inactive state, switching off the two network interfaces that this link connects so that no current or light flows through this link.
 7. A method (300) according to claim 5, comprising, in order to set a link in the inactive state, reducing an operating frequency of at least one of the two network interfaces that this link connects.
 8. A computer program downloadable from a communication network and/or recorded on a computer-readable and/or processor-executable medium, characterized in that it comprises instructions for executing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when said program is executed on one or more computers.
 9. A computer cluster forming a supercomputer comprising: computers (102, 104) each having at least one network interface forming a node (1 . . . 16), a network (110) for interconnecting the nodes (1 . . . 16), comprising: switches (1.1 . . . 4.8) each having network interfaces, and links (114) each connecting either a node (1 . . . 16) and a network interface of one switch (1.1 . . . 1.8), or two network interfaces of two respective switches (2.1 . . . 4.8); the supercomputer further comprising software and/or hardware means for deploying a task, designed to implement the following step: allocating (310) nodes (1 . . . 16) to the task; the supercomputer being characterized in that it further comprises software and/or hardware means for deploying a task, designed to implement the following steps: determining (312), in the network (110), a subnetwork, for interconnecting the allocated nodes, satisfying one or more predefined determination criteria comprising a first criterion whereby the subnetwork uses only links that are not allocated to any other task already deployed or that are allocated to fewer than N other tasks already deployed, where N is a predefined number equal to one or more; allocating (314) the subnetwork, and in particular the links belonging to this subnetwork, to the task; and implementing (316) inter-node communication routes in the allocated subnetwork. 